Carton-closing machine



Oct. 3, 1961 H. COOKSON ETAL CARTONCLOSING MACHINE '7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 20, 1960 lrlvenlors g Attorneys HAROLD Coo/(SON RicHARD w E MoSsE By BERNARD H. 0XBORROW 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventors y y v 4,, A ttorneyj H. COOKSON ETAL CARTON-CLOSING MACHINE Oct. 3, 1961 Filed April 20, 1960 HAROLD 600K soN RICHARD w. E MOSSE B BERNARD H. OXBORROW mg am m (mw ww h Oct. 3, 1961 H. COOKSON ET AL CARTON-CLOSING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed April 20, 1960 VM A tlorn e ya HAROLD daoKsoN RICHARD w. E. MOSSE B BERNARD H. OXBORROW Oct. 3, 1961 COOKSON T AL 3,002,329

CARTON-CLOSING MACHINE Filed April 20, 1960 '7 Sheets-Sheet 4 Inventors HAROLD do kson RICHARD w. E. M055EB% U BERNARD H 0XBORRbW W A tlorne ya I Oct. 3, 1961 H. cooKsoN ET AL CARTON-CLOSING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed April 20, 1960 Inventor;

HAROLD C'a0K 0N ow %R m X 0 E WH D D R R M R MB RB A tlorneys Oct. 3, 1961 H. cooKsoN ET AL 3,002,329

CARTON-CLOSING MACHINE Filed April 20, 1960 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTORS HARL 0 COoK N RICHARD W. EMJssE BERNARD H.0XBOKROW Attorney;

Oct. 3, 1961 H. COOKSON ETAL CARTON-CLOSING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed April 20, 1960 F/lg. g9

Inventors B Q r. W

HAROLD COOKSON RICHARD W E M0555 EEKNAR D H. OXBORROW M Attorney 3,002,329 CARTDN-CLOSING MACHINE Harold Cookson, Portsmouth, Richard W. E. Mosse, Lontion, and Bernard Hewlett Oxborrow, Swindon, England, assignors to The Metal Box Company Limited, London, England, a British company Filed Apr. 20, 1960, Ser. No. 23,543

Claims priority, application Great Britain May 11, 1959 18 Claims. (Cl. 53-375) This invention relates to carton closing machines and in particular to apparatus for sealing a carton of the kind which has a lid hingedly connected to the rear wall of the carton body and provided with side flaps adapted to overlie and to be heat-sealed to side walls of the body and with a front flap adapted to overlie and to be heatsealed to the front wall of the body.

According to the invention apparatus for sealing a carton of the kind set forth above comprises first and second conveyors arranged respectively to move a carton past folder devices which effect engagement of the side flaps with the body side walls and of the front flap with the body front wall and past heater devices which eifect sealing of the side and front flaps to the side and front walls, presser means adapted to apply pressure to the carton lid at least during folding and sealing of the side flaps, and a transfer device arranged to move a carton from the first to the second conveyor and to orientate the carton for operation thereon by the folder and heater devices co-operating with the second conveyor.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood one embodiment thereof will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a carton, before filling, adapted for sealing by apparatus according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carton just prior to sealing thereof by the apparatus according to the invention,

nite States Patent i Patented Oct. .3, 19161 the set-up and closed condition thereof. The thermo plastic adhesive composition is a composition which is incompatible withthe wax, is non-tacky at normal temperatures and is softened at a temperature higher than that of the melting temperature of the wax. The softening temperature of the adhesive composition is preferably appreciably abovethe melting temperature of the wax, the diiference being, for example, of the order of C. One suitable formof thermoplastic adhesive composition is a polyvinyl acetate. resin having incorporated therein plasticizers which render it heat-scalable but non-tacky at normal temperatures.

The blank is set up 'to form an open carton ready for filling, FIG. 1, by any suitableform of apparatus, notwall 6, and a lid7 hingedlyconnected to the rear wall FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a carton following sealing thereof by the apparatus according to the inventlon,

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic top plan of apparatus according to the invention,

FIG. 5 is a side view looking in the direction of arrow V, FIG. 4,

FIG. 6 is a side view looking in the direction of arrow VI, FIG. 4,

FIGS. 7A and 7B together are a top plan of apparatus according to the invention,

FIGS. 8A and 8B together are an elevation looking in the direction of arrow VIII, FIGS. 7A and 7B,

FIG. 9 is a section on line IXIX, FIG. 7A,

FIG. 10 is a section on line X-X, FIG. 7B, and

FIG. 11 is a plan, to an enlarged scale, of a part of the mechanism illustrated in FIGS. 7A and 7 4 Referring to the drawings, one form of carton to be closed by apparatus according to the invention is illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3 and is made from cardboard the 6. The lid includes side flaps 8, 9 adapted to overlie and to be heat-sealed to the side walls 4, 5 of the body and a front flap 10 adapted to overlie and to be heatsealed to the front wall 3 of the body.

Following the filling thereof a carton is delivered on to a pair of stationary guides'lL'FIG. 7A, either manually or by a conveyor, not shown, and the lid 7 may be folded to the position thereof illustrated in FIG. 2 be fore the cartons are placed on the guides 11 or the lids may be down-folded by a stationary folder, not shown, as the cartons are moved from guides 11 tothe cartonsealing apparatus about to be described.

FIGS. 4 to 6 illustrate diagrammatically the lay-out of thesealing apparatuswhich includes a first conveyor 12 and a second conveyor 13 each of which consists of an endless belt arranged forcontinuous movement in one direction. As shown in FIG. 4, the conveyor belts 12, 13 are arranged to move in opposite directions in paths which are side-by-side, the carton-receiving surfaces of the belts being parallel one tothe other and disposed in the same horizontal plane, FIG. 9. While a carton is beingmoved by the conveyor belt 12, the sidefiaps 8, 9 are folded down against the side walls 4, 5 and, as described below, are heat-sealed thereto. A rotatable transfer 'device'14 transfers the carton from the conveyor belt 12 to the conveyor belt 13 and during the transfer turns the carton through 270 so that during movement of the carton by the conveyor belt 13 the frontdlap'10- can be folded down against the front wall 3 and heat-sealed thereto.

Referring now to FIGS. 7A to 11, the conveyor belt 12 passes round rotatable pulleys 15, 16, FIGS. 7A, 7B, 8A and 8B, r-otated by an electric motor 17, FIG. 8B, and chains or belts 18. The cartons are pushed from the 3 guides 11 on to belt 12 bygtlie introduction'of successive form the heat seals by which the carton isretainedin cartons on to the guides, and just afterbeingreceived on belt '12 are er'igag ed by presser means which. press the cartons against the conveyor belt and continue so to do until the cartons are delivered by the belt 12 to the transfer device J14, The, presser means comprises an endless belt 19 faced on one side with compressible material F, such as foam rubber, and when engaged with the lid of acartonco-operates with the belt 12 to en sure the positive movement of'the-carton past stationary folders 20, 21, FIG. 7A, which fold the side flaps 8, 9 downwards into engagement with the side walls 4, Soft the cartonbody, past heater devices 22 which effect heat-sealing offthe side flaps to the side walls, and. then past'coolingmeans 23 arranged to. effect cooling of the heat-sealedflaps. The arrangement of the belts 12 and 19 is such that it is not necessary to maintain the cartons in predetermined spaced relation on the conveyor and the cartons may, if desired, abut each other whilejbeing moved by the conveyor belt. 1 p r h The presser belt-19passes round the pulleys 24, 25

and is driven from the shaft 27 on which pulley 16 is mounted, FIG. 8B, through a train of gears 28, 29, 30, 31. The belt 19 is guided laterally by stationary guides 32,

f. The heater devices 22' consist of stationary electrical heater elements and in the preferred embodiment of the invention include endless heater belts 34, 35 movable continuously at the linear speed of the conveyor belt 12 in planes at right angles to the plane in which the cartoncarrying surface of belt 12 is movable. The heater belts may be made of nylon or other suitable material and heated by engagement with the heater devices 22 as illustrated in FIGS. 8A, 8B, and 11. Movement of the heater belts 34,35 is effected by rollers 36 driven by motor 26, FIG. 8A, through gears 37, 38. The gear 38 is rotatable with a shaft 39 rotation of which is effected by a chain 139, FIG. 7B, which passes round sprockets 49, 40a rotatable respectively with shaft 27 and shaft 39.

After passing the heater devices the sealed side flaps 8, 9 are engagedby the cooling devices 23 which comprise hollow box-like elements, see FIG. 10, having pipes 41, 42, FIG. 7B, connected thereto and to a pump or the like 43 by which cooling fluid, preferably water, is circulated through the cooling elements. For convenience only the pipes 41, 42 for one of the cooling elements are illustrated in the drawings.

The cartons are delivered by conveyor belt 12 and presser belt 19' on to the transfer device 14 which comprises a continuously rotatable disc and a stationary arcuate guide 44 and the disc 14 is rotated by motor 17 through a belt or chain 45 and a gearbox 46, FIG. SE, at an angular velocity which is greater than the linear speed of the conveyor belt 12 so as to effect spacing between the successive cartons delivered by the first conveyor belt 12. As. stated above, each carton is rotated by the transfer device 14 through 270 and it is delivered by the transfer device with the rear wall 6 of the carton abutting a stop 47, FIG.- 7B, which aligns the carton for movement by the second conveyor belt 13. p

The belt 13 passes round pulleys 113, 213, FIGS. 7A and 7B, and pulley 113 issecured to a shaft 126 driven by a belt or chain 226, FIG. 8A, from an electric motor 26. Abovethe second conveyor belt 13 is a second presser means in the form of an endless belt 48 similar to the belt 19. Belt 48 is driven by gears 49, 50, FIG. 8A, gear 49 being rotatable with the shaft 126, and the belt 48 extends over the transfer device 14, see FIGS. 7B and 8B. The end portion of belt 48 which extends over the transfer device 14 is spaced above the device 14 by a distance sufficient to permit the carton to pass beneath the belt 48 and engage stop 47 and this portion of belt 48 slopes downwards towards the pully 213, FIG. 7B, which is 7 so located that a part of a carton engaged by the stop 47 rests on the belt 13 and is moved thereby sufficiently for it to be engaged between'belts 13 and 48 which thus drawthe carton ofl? the transfer device 14. The presser llgeilt 48 is guided laterally bystationary guides 51, 52,

Each carton when gripped between the second conveyor belt 13 and presser belt 48 is moved thereby first past a stationary folder 53, FIG. 7B, which folds the front flap down into engagement with the front wall 3 of the body and then past electric heater devices 54, similar to the heater devices 22 and including a heater belt 55, and cooling devices 156 similar to the cooling devices 23. Sealed cartons leaving the second conveyor belt 13 are delivered to any desired receptacle, not shown.

The heater belt-55 is driven by a roller 56, FIGS. 7A and 9, through gears 57 and 58 of which gear 58 is rotatable with a shaft 59 in turn rotatable by a chain 159 passing round sprockets 159a and 159b, the sprocket 159a being rotatable with shaft 126.

The presser belts 19, together with their guides 32, 33, 51, 52 are carried by parallel frames 60, 61 supported by parallcl'links 6. 63 p voted to-machineframe mmbers 64, 65 and are provided with a handle '66 by which the presser belts can be swung about the pivots for links 62, 63 into and out of the operative positions of the belts, this facility being provided to permit servicing of the apparatus and the clearing of jams should such occur during operation of the apparatus.

It will be understood that the provision of cooling devices, although not essential, is desirable to reduce the length of the sealing apparatus to a minimum. Further, although it is preferred to use heater belts in combination with the heater devices the heater belts can, if desired, be omitted.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention described with reference to the drawings a single presser belt co-operates with each of the first and second conveyors. If desired, however, each conveyor may have a succession of presser belts co-operating therewith.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for sealing a carton having a lid hingedly connected to the rear wall of the carton body and provided with side flaps adapted to overlie and to be heat sealed to side walls of the body and with a front flap adapted to overlie and to be heat-sealed to the front wall of the body, said apparatus comprising first and second folder devices operable respectively to eifect engagement of the side flaps with the body side walls and of the front flap with the body front wall, first and second heater devices associated respectively with said first and second folder devices and operable to effect sealing of the side and front flaps to the side and front walls, first and second conveyors operable respectively to move a carton past the first and second folder devices and the heater devices associated therewith, presser means adapted to apply pressure to the carton lid at least during folding and sealing of the side flaps, and a transfer device arranged to move a carton from the first to the second conveyor and to orientate the calton for operation thereon by the folder and heater devices past which the carton is moved by the second conveyor.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first and second conveyors are movable in opposite directions in side-by-side paths and the transfer device rotates the carton through 270 during transfer thereof from the first to the second conveyor.

3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the transfer device comprises a disc continuously rotatable with an angular velocity greater than the linear speed of the first conveyor.

4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the heater devices each include an endless heater belt arranged to engage and be movable with a flap being sealed.

5. Apparatus according to claim 3, including cooling means operable to effect cooling of a sealed flap while the carton is still being moved by the conveyor on which it rests during sealing of the flap.

6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein each cooling means includes a hollow element engageable with the sealed flap and means to effect circulation of a cooling fluid through the hollow element. 7

7. Apparatus according to claim 4, including cooling means operable to effect cooling of a sealed flap while the carton is still being moved by the conveyor onwhich it rests during sealing of the flap.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein each' cooling means includes a hollow element engageable with the sealed flap and means to effect circulation of a cooling fluid through the hollow element.

7 9. Apparatus for sealing a carton having a lid hingedly connected to the rear wall of the carton body andprovided with side flaps adapted to overlie and to be heatsealed to side walls of the body and with a front flap adapted to overlie and to be heat-sealed to the front wall of the body, said apparatus comprising first and second folder devices operable respectively to efiect engagement-of the side flaps with the body side walls and of the front flap with the body front wall, first and second heater devices associated respectively with said first and second folder devices and operable to eifect sealing of the side and front flaps to the side and front walls, first and second endless continuously movable belts on which the bottom of a carton rests for movement thereby past the first and second folder devices and the heater devices associated therewith, presser means disposed above each of said belts to be movable therewith and to apply pressure to the lid of the carton thereby to grip the carton between the belt and presser means, and a transfer device arranged to move a carton from the first to the second belt and to orientate the carton for operation thereon by the folder and heater devices past which the carton is moved by the second belt.

10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the presser means for each said conveyor belt comprises an endless continuously movable presser belt faced with a compressible material such as foam rubber.

11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said first and second belts are movable in opposite directions in side-by-side paths and the transfer device rotates the carton through 270 during transfer thereof from the first to the second belt.

12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the transfer device comprises a disc continuously rotatable with an angular velocity greater than that of the linear speed of the first belt.

13. Apparatus according to claim 12, including a stop interposed in the path of a carton being transferred by the disc to locate the carton for movement on to the second belt, and in which the presser means by cooperation with the second belt is operable to move the arrested carton from the disc on to the second belt.

14. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the heater devices each include an endless heater belt arranged to engage and be movable with a flap being sealed.

15. Apparatus according to claim 12, including cooling means operable to effect cooling of a sealed flap while the carton is still being moved by the belt on which it rests during sealing of the flap.

16. Apparatus according to claim 15, wherein each cooling means includes a hollow element engageable with the sealed flap and means to effect circulation of a cooling fluid through the hollow element.

17. Apparatus according to claim 14, including cooling means operable to effect cooling of a sealed flap while the carton is still being moved by the belt on which it rests during sealing of the flap.

18. Apparatus according to claim 17, wherein each cooling means includes a hollow element engageable with the sealed flap and means to effect circulation of a cooling fluid through the hollow element.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,559,618 Kappes et al. Nov. 3, 1925 1,698,786 Finn Jan. 15, 1929 2,133,348 Ferenci Oct. 18, 1938 2,224,716 Anderson Dec. 10, 1940 2,601,750 Fahey et al. July 1, 1952 2,727,345 Schoppee Dec. 20, 1955 

